MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Verlander didn't look like a rookie in the thick of a pennant race. Despite their recent struggles, the Detroit Tigers kept their cool, too.

Having lost 19 of their last 28 games, the Tigers reached this critical four-game series at Minnesota with a chance to fall out of sole possession of first place in the AL Central for the first time since May 20. But that won't happen this weekend, thanks to the rookie right-hander.

Verlander gave up one run in seven innings on Thursday in a 7-2 victory over the second-place Twins, who trail Detroit in the division by five games.

The Chicago White Sox — 9-1 losers to Cleveland in the day's only other AL game — are a half-game behind Minnesota, which grounded into three double plays against Verlander (16-7) and also had a runner picked off first base.

Cliff Lee gave up one run in six strong innings and Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez homered off Mark Buehrle to lead visiting Cleveland past slumping Chicago.The White Sox have lost six of eight and remained one-half game behind Minnesota for the AL wild-card spot. Chicago dropped 5½ games behind Detroit in the AL Central.

A night after Florida's Anibal Sanchez pitched the major leagues' first no-hitter in more than two years, the Marlins couldn't stop giving up hits.Ryan Howard hit his 54th home run — his 10th in 15 games — and Chris Coste, Chase Utley and Jeff Conine also homered in the Philadelphia Phillies' 14-8 victory Thursday night.

Tom Glavine (13-6) won for the first time since Aug. 5, and Jose Reyes flew around the bases for his first career inside-the-park home run.

Scott Spiezio homered twice in a game for the first time since May 2003 as the visiting Cardinals opened a 6½ -game lead over second-place Cincinnati in the NL Central and sent Arizona to its eighth loss in nine games.

Jamey Carroll got the go-ahead hit, one of three straight infield singles in a five-run eighth at Denver.